Grilled cheese need not only be the domain of 5-year-olds. The decidedly adult Bad Apple knows that well — no surprise for a joint that also serves a $26 Wagyu burger — and the result is fancy grilled cheese, built of cambozola (a triple cream, brie-style blue cheese made in Germany), a fig, apple, pecan and balsamic compote and a light layer of arugula on hearty sea salt ciabatta. The genius of this version of a grilled cheese? Balance. Rather than simply bready-meets-gooey, the ciabatta offers thick chewiness and exterior crunch. The compote lends sweet heft, while the arugula is an earthy, herbal counterpoint. But the rich, creamy and lightly funky cheese is the star — too much of it would doom such a fancy grilled cheese. Here, the components meld to make a whole that is at once comforting (as grilled cheese should be) and interesting (as well-made food should be). Sorry, 5-year-olds; this one is for mom, dad, the aunts, uncles and grandparents. $12. 4300 N. Lincoln Ave., badapplebar.com — Josh Noel

At least two major differences distinguish the Big Star in Wrigleyville from Big Star in Wicker Park. 1. You can score a table with no wait, instead of the hour or two you'll need at the still ultra-popular original tacos and whiskey spot. 2. Brunch. On a recent Sunday afternoon, both advantages conspired to put me in front of an order of avocado huarache — which is like avocado toast, but not played out (like this joke). The large masa-boat base was a tad thick, but well-cooked with crispy bits, yet still tender to the bite. Piled on top were black beans, plenty of sliced avocado, cilantro, crema and salsa, plus, for me, the most unusual ingredient, adasero cheese. Sliced in thin slabs about the size of half a playing card, the cheese was griddled with several blistered, browned spots, yet didn't melt — behaving like halloumi. The mild yet tangy taste and somewhat squeaky texture make the adasero a welcome new find. $9. 3640 N. Clark St., 773-857-7120, bigstarchicago.com — Joe Gray

Cheese is a near-universal unifier — sorry, vegans — so this month, we're seeking out Chicagoland's best cheesy dishes. Whether literally bringing people together over pots of gooey fondue, sussing out the city's superlative grilled cheese or tracking down the perfect version of a quesadilla, we're on the hunt for all things cheese. Come back every day in December for a new dish.